Proverbs 28:6-10
 
Prov 28:6 (KJV)
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
 
Uprightness - Integrity
Perverse - Distorted
 
It is always better to be honest and have integrity, even if it does not yield the riches of this world. It yields a far greater crop than that. People will trust and come to those who are people of integrity because they know they will not be abused or oppressed. Those who have gained wealth illegally, are subject to indictment at any time if someone wants to take their place. If a person is to gain illegal wealth, they will have partners in their crimes and those partners are always a threat because they know the truth. Here would be a good case of the wicked fleeing when no one is pursuing. How many times have rich people, by their own fears, try to do away with those who are partners and in the process have caused their own arrest and indictment.
 
Prov 28:7 (KJB)
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
 
Riotous - Vile
Shameth - Humiliate
 
A son who keeps the law will be one the parents who raised him will rejoice in. The wise obedient son does not bring any shame or problems for his father. In fact, the wise son brings praise to the father for the way he lives and the way he conducts business. If his father has a business and hands it down to this son, then the father can rest assured that the business is in good hands. On the other hand, if a father has a son that keeps company with vile men, then it will bring a stain upon the family. This son will not be able to be trusted with any family business and if he has a family of his own, he will bring shame upon them too and will probably neglect them. The father would not be able to go into the town without feeling humiliated because of the actions of his vile son. It may even affect his father’s business dealings because one may feel that if something happens to the father and the vile son takes over, will they ever get paid for their services. Family disobedience has far reaching consequences, farther than the nuclear family.
 
Prov 28:8 (KJB)
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
 
According to the law of God, those Israelites who lent money to other Israelites were not to charge interest. (Exo 22:25 KJV) If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. This law stayed in effect even after the exile into Babylon. In Babylon, Israelites were charging other Israelites very high interest. This was true according to some of the Cuneiform tablets which were found which detailed this.
 
During the time of the Babylonian captivity of Judah, a man named Jacob Egibi became the founding father of modern banking. While Judah was in captivity, Jacob began a business of loaning out money for a rate of interest. During the Reign of King Kandalanu of Babylon (circa 648-625 B.C.) a new phenomenon appeared on the scene which Jacob Egibi played a major part, and that was the invention of private banking. There were 2 prominent families at this time, they were the Egibi family and the Iranu families. These 2 families are not a figment of imagination as their names have appeared in many cuneiform tablets discovered by Archaeologists. It is believed that the Egibi family was taken with the first captivity into Assyria and then later migrated to Babylon. At the time of the 70 year captivity, Jacob Egibi already had an ongoing private banking business in which he collected large sums of interest. Now we have secular insight as to why many of the Jews did not want to return with Nehemiah to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. By the time of the end of the captivity, many of the others who were in captivity with the Egibi families learned this evil business practice and began to set up shop.
 
As you can plainly see, there were some who totally disobeyed the law of God in the area of charging interest for loans. (Prov 13:22 KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. Since they have broken the law of God, the money they made through illegal interest will not be able to be enjoyed by them as it will be given to those who will help the poor. It may be a son who will inherit the money and realize that his father made the money illegally and will give it back to the poor. (Luke 19:8 KJV) And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. A good example of returning the stolen money is when a person gets saved and then does the right thing in returning it.
 
Prov 28:9 (KJB)
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
 
He that turneth away - To be removed
Abomination - A detestable thing
 
Those who intentionally remove themselves from hearing the law of God or even Gospel preaching, will not be heard by God since they are still in a state of unbelief. (Isa 59:1-2 KJV) Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: {2} But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2 teaches that those who are still unsaved will not have their prayers heard by God. It is not that He cannot hear them, He chooses not to and only responds to the prayers of His children. If one despises the word of God, which here is called the law, then why would they expect that their prayers would be heard and answered? Probably they think that because they see God as a messenger boy who responds to every request no matter who it is. However, that is a false belief and is never taught in Scripture. Since they will have nothing to do with the Word of God, God will have nothing to do with them. (Psa 5:5 KJV) The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
 
Prov 28:10 (KJB)
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
 
The saved are always going to be targets of the unsaved. It may be because they are trusting and Satan would love nothing more than to tarnish the testimony of believers. This verse teaches that anyone who causes the righteous to go astray, will catch themselves in their own web of evil. The righteous may find out the scheme and expose them to the proper authorities. If the unsaved are targeting the saved, they are targeting a group which has God as their Father and He sees everything which is going on. Even if the upright falls into the snare of the wicked, the reality is that they are still God’s children in Christ and will inherit Heaven and all its glories. The trials and tribulations of this life are not representative of what is in store for the believer.

Back